Lee Man Charged in Shooting

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Lee man is pleading not guilty in connection with a shooting Thursday evening in Lee.

Phap Nguyen, 51, is being charged with shooting a 30-year-old man, whom police said is his stepson, at Nguyen's 175 Bear Mountain Road home.

According to the district attorney's office, Lee Police were called to the scene of the alleged shooting at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday. Officers from Lee, Lenox, Stockbridge and state police from the Lee barracks along with members of the Berkshire County Special Response Team responded.

The victim, Jeremy Lee Deane, was transported to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, where he underwent emergency surgery for gunshot wounds to his legs and abdomen. According to a BMC spokesperson, the victim is in stable condition.

It is alleged that Nguyen also shot and killed a dog belonging to Deane.

Nguyen appeared Friday afternoon in Central Berkshire District Court before Judge Michael Ripps.

He had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of armed assault with intent to murder and cruelty to animals. Ripps ordered that he be held without the right to bail and sent him to Bridgewater State Hospital for a competency evaluation.

Nguyen is scheduled to be back in Southern Berkshire District Court in Great Barrington for a pretrial hearing on Jan. 3, 2013.

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